Album Review:

1964 was a busy year for the five suntanned music-makers from Southern California. By the time The Beach Boys Christmas Album hit the shelves, the group had already released 3 albums, 5 singles (all of which had charted in the top 10), and ventured out on tour - all in the span of a single year.

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The album begins with a remixed 'Little Saint Nick,' a tune that had been a single from the group the previous season. 'The Man with All the Toys' is a short recount of a visit to the North Pole, while 'Santa's Beard' is a sweet story of an ill-fated trip to a department store. 'Merry Christmas Baby' is an infectious number with rolling toms and a catchy vocal line. Al Jardine handles his first lead vocal in the sweet 'Christmas Day' while the rest of the group share the spotlight in 'Frosty the Snowman.' While the first side is full of mainly original rock songs, side two is where the real magic happens. With complimentary orchestral arrangements by the talented Dick Reynolds (of Four Freshmen fame) the Beach Boys reveal another side of the band, deeply rooted in the tight jazz harmonies of the Four Freshmen. Brian's lush four-part vocal arrangement in 'We Three Kings of Orient Are' is a fitting opening to the second side, while his exposed falsetto is featured on the tender 'Blue Christmas,' a daringly unhurried take on the R&B Elvis tune. Reynolds' arranging power is the feature in the bombastic 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town while the boys step up to the mic to deliver another full vocal arrangement. 'White Christmas' again features Brian's lyric tenor, this time accompanied by the rest of the group. 'I'll Be Home for Christmas' is another great four-part delivery from the group while 'Auld Lang Syne' is sung, a cappella incorporates a special Christmas message from Dennis.

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The Beach Boys Christmas Album shows the band expanding their repertoire and experimenting with a variety of styles, something we hadn't seen prior.